The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-12-23
CHRISTMAS.
How Different Nations Observe the Day

NlsA NulloltudS nave Ill luL8IeSJ
arly their own, and it is worth noting
that the spirit OF charity and good Will,
which IS the leadirg Characteristic of
the happy time, pervades them all.
Some Of the most interesting of these
customs we will endeavor to briefly de-
scribe
In England the custom of staying up
to midnight 10 hear the Christmas
''waits" is still observed, although
many good people il asked the question
would find it difficult to give a reason
fDr doing so. The tradition that Chris,
was born at midnight originated this
custom. At one time the bands of
singers used TO go about from house 20
house singing Christ mas carols. These
were the warts" and by degrees the
quantity beautiful carols which they
sang degenerated into mere doggerel,
and the custom for time fell into dis
use. LatteTerly, however, it has been
revived somewhat, as also the custom of
singing Christmas carols in Protestant
Episcopal churches.
In the feudal times when the old bar
onial halls gloried in vast fireplaces the
bringing o. the Yule log, an entire
trunk of a tree which was burned whole,
was a great event and attended by Pc
culiar ceremonies AID great rejoicing.
Then feasting followed ; the mighty
wassail bowl WAS introduced and the
solid pleasures Of the table followed and
were kept up with Zest and ability TO
put away vast quantities OF provisions
that would astOnish most people of the
present generation. The central dish
was the boar's head, flanked by other
the crowning ideas of Christmas pleas
ures in England, as, indeed, in every.
where else throughout Christendom, are
still the grosser joys Of eating and
drinking. The ''roast beef and plum
pudding" Of Old England has Yule-
tide smack about it and solid plenty Is
the characteristics of Christmas cheer
at English tables. First comes the
savory roast goose, which is the recog-
nized Christmas dish among all classes,
plum pudding, which is brought in
steaming, causing young hearts to re-
joice and bringing in a vista of future
stomach ache and physic to small boys.
Throughout the land Charity expands
her wings, and in all the large cities a
general movement is heartily made TO
let the poor have at least one good din
ner.
In America the custom Of hanging up
the stocking is as heartily observed as
ever, and little boys and girls in town
an6 country for weeks before Christmas
speculate on what Santa Claus will
bring them. The North German Gus
tom OF the Christmas tree has been
largely revived os late years, and in
many households has become a regular
observance every year. Both Christmas
tree and the Santa Claus custom are the
relics of the days when Thor, Wooden
and Erica were wOrshiped, but mOdi-
fed by Christianity till they are Low
emblematic of the charitable feeling Of
the day of gladness.
In France, many years ago, it was
the habit for people to stop all kinds OF
labor at noon on the day before Christ
mas, and masters kept open house and
feasted their employees. 1t was also
the fashion for the people TO assemble on
the outside OF churches and cathedrals
long before midnight, and the time was
passed away by singing of Christmas
carols, the Monks teaching them how 10
sing the carols as well as the Latin can
ticies Of the Church. AS the SaturnaI
ian element began TO come uppt rmos:,
the carols became scurrllous and OBJ
scene, and no regret was felt when the
custom was done away with.
In sunny Italy the most visible char
scteristic is the excessive love and de-
yotion felt for the Virgin, which shows
Itself in many quaint ways. The whole
scope of the teaching OF the Church
tends TO make the people realize the
birth OF CHRIST as an actual yearly oc
currence. This has led TO the manites-
tation of the pifferaIi, the bdgpipe
players, who are all from the mountains
OF Cslabria. The pifTerari divide them
selves into three bands, which march
down the streets, stopping a. every
shrine and pouring out wild music char
acterized rather by loudness than melu-
dy. This is one of the sights Of Rome
at Christmas time. 1t is the mission Il
the pitfeIari TO 90 through The city and
pray before all the shTiuts TO the Virgin
to cheer her spirits while undergoing
the anguish OF sccouchement. In Ger
many, Christmas is observed with pecu.
liar heartiness. There Santa C.aus has
AD abiding home, and the Christmas
tree, with its cheerful light, is found in
every house where money can be raised
to procure 1t, Like the people OF Eng
land, the Germans place eating ard
drinking among the foremost OF pleas
ures ~ Christmas tide.
The Russian ouSeryauces az Christ
mas are peculiar in one important re-
spect. They lag behind the other
Christian nations. Their Christmas
eve falls on our 9TH o: January, as the
Russians EeYer surrendered the Julian
Calendar. The Christmas festivities
ale marked with quaint games IN which
parts are assigned for youths and maid
ems. and strict code Of etiquette is oh
served through them all.